Fonda Smith

Obituary of Fonda Olive (Putnam) Smith

Greenville - Fonda Olive (Putnam) Smith, 72, passed away peacefully at her home on December 13, 2023,after a courageous, nearly eight-year battle with multiple cancers. Fonda was born February 6, 1951, at Rumford Community Hospital in Rumford, Maine, to Mona (Noyes) Putnam and Ceylon E. Putnam, Jr. Fonda attended Peru Grammar School (K-8) and Dirigo High School in Dixfield (9-12), Class of 1969. She then attended and graduated from University of Maine at Machias with a B.S. in Business Education, Class of 1973. While there, she met the love of her life and husband of 35 years, Carroll J. Smith. She taught school for 30 years: four years at Washington Academy in East Machias, then substituted one year at Greenville High School after the family moved to Greenville in 1977, (her late husband’s hometown). She then taught for two years at Forest Hills High School in Jackman, and the next 24 years at Greenville High School. In her time at GHS, she implemented a computer lab to replace the typewriters and started teaching 4th through 12th graders the computer keyboard and computer applications. She was actively involved in supporting students beyond the classroom, most notably as Yearbook Advisor and Student Council Advisor. Fonda retired in 2004, then taught a short time at Beal College in Bangor, Maine. Fonda thoroughly enjoyed her first two years of retirement, as Carroll and Fonda began retired life together. This enjoyment was short-lived as Carroll was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and for the next 13 months, she showed what “in sickness and health” truly meant. As Carroll was losing his battle with cancer, her life was severely disrupted by the death of their son, Jerry, then Carroll’s death 29 days later. A large network of family and friends supported her, but her life was altered. Some semblance of normalcy was restored until life threw her another curve ball in 2016 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. For nearly eight years she fought four different cancers. Along the way, she showed just how tough and resilient she could be while facing each battle head on. Fonda was a devout Catholic and attended the Holy Family Catholic Church in Greenville, where over the years she was active in helping to teach CCD, served as a eucharistic minister, and most recently helped counting the weekend offerings. She thoroughly enjoyed any time spent with family, with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always looked forward to time spent with her close friend, Sharon Humphrey-Mason, and close friend, Virginia Richards. Over the past several years she enjoyed the friendships that developed with The Friday Coffee Group and treasured the mini adventures that ensued. Fonda was predeceased by her parents; husband, Carroll; son, Jerry; and a brother, Ceylon E. Putnam III. She is survived by the second love of her life and very special lifelong family friend, Richie Nadeau; son, Eric Smith and his wife, Jill, of Howland; daughter, Maria Mann and her husband, Earl, of Beaver Cove; brother, Dana C. Putnam and his wife, Natalie, and sister-in-law, Linda Putnam, all from Peru; grandchildren, Krystal Tracy and her husband, TJ, of Glenburn, Kevin Levesque and his wife, Cat, of Brewer, Caleb and Colton Mann, both of Beaver Cove; great-grandchildren, Maddilynn, and Thomas and Charlotte Tracy, all of Glenburn; as well as several nieces, nephews and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., December 27, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Greenville, with the Reverend Richard Malo, celebrant. A reception will follow in the hall of the Holy Family Catholic Church. A committal service will be held 10AM Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the family lot in the Greenville Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft, where messages of condolence and memories may be left at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
Wednesday
27
December

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 am
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Holy Family Catholic Church
145 Pritham Ave.
Greenville, Maine, United States
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